Bullet Weight Variations

[wapiti16b]

What do you consider acceptable for bullet weight variation and what bullet brand has been the most consistent in your experience ?
For example the Berger VLDs I've weighed are all pretty damn close to advertised , the Hornady ELDXs not so much !
I mention these as they are what I am currently working with . In your experience does variation make a difference and if so what amount of variation do you deem acceptable for long range shooting ?
Thanks !

 

[Lynn Jr]

Bullet weight variation is a math test.
If your loads are exactly the same the lighter bullet will fly faster. It will also affect the bullets BC number.
So if bullet one is flying at 3000 FPS with a 0 600 BC number and Bullet two is flying at 3010 FPS with a 0.602 BC number you will see 3.5 inches difference at 1000 yards all else equal.

 

[Sheldon N]

So if bullet one is flying at 3000 FPS with a 0 600 BC number and Bullet two is flying at 3010 FPS with a 0.602 BC number you will see 3.5 inches difference at 1000 yards all else equal.

Doesn't sectional density work in the inverse direction? Lighter bullet flies faster, but has lower sectional density hence lower BC?

OP, my recommendation would be to do your comparisons in live fire rather than on a scale. Which bullet makes smaller groups at 100 yards? Which holds a more consistent vertical dispersion at distance?

 

[wapiti16b]

Sheldon N , that is what I plan on doing however I must say I was disappointed with the weight variations in the ELDX bullets . I found a very low SD load with the ELDXs @2875 ( 300WM 212g) and have only shot paper @ 100 yards so far . I will work up a load with the VLDs also and take both to 600 yards and beyond . I really will not shot these much past 800 as they are hunting loads .
Thanks !

 

[Lynn Jr]

I was just using an example of how a small variation can ruin your vertical at 1000 yards.
I am a retired Benchrest shooter who now runs 2000 yard matches.
I sort my bullets to the smallest like piles I can achieve and measure them for everything. After that the like batch go on the Juenke Machine for final sorting.

 

[lightman]

I've weighed about every common make of bullet except Berger and a few custom benchrest bullets. Sierra has had the smallest variation, most of the time. I often see 95% of a 500 count box fall within .3 of a grain or less. Occasionally you will run across a batch of Hornady or Nosler this close but with Sierrsa its like often vs occasionally. The custom benchrest bullets were closer but they also were a lighter weight bullet.